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235 comments on DrumBeat: September 21, 2007

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phineas gage on September 21, 2007 - 8:22am Permalink | Subthread | Comments top

I want to say thanks to Robert Rapier and everyone that contributed comments to the compost thread 2 weeks ago.

I've been following some of the simple advice there and the results have been amazing. By simply spending 2 or 3 minutes each of the last 2 weekends, more has happened with my compost pile in 2 weeks than had happened in the prior 2 years. I'm embarassed to admit that I knew absolutely nothing about composting. Just threw the stuff in a pile and hoped something would eventually happen. I didn't realize how easy it was to accelerate and improve the composting process.

If you missed this article, here's the permalink:

http://www.theoildrum.com/node/2936

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Will on September 21, 2007 - 8:34am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Phineas... if you're looking for further information on proven agricultural practices give this link some time. This link was originally posted on a Drum Beat a year or two ago. It is most interesting. From the intro...

The Core Historical Literature of Agriculture (CHLA) is a core electronic collection of agricultural texts published between the early nineteenth century and the middle to late twentieth century. Full-text materials cover agricultural economics, agricultural engineering, animal science, crops and their protection, food science,forestry, human nutrition, rural sociology, and soil science. Scholars have selected the titles in this collection for their historical importance.

http://chla.library.cornell.edu/

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eric blair on September 21, 2007 - 8:44am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

http://www.theoildrum.com/node/2442#comment-177598 is the thread to the earlier reference.

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phineas gage on September 21, 2007 - 12:13pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Thanks, interesting link, but way over my head when it comes to gardening at this point. My only gardening experience at this point is a 6 sq foot herb garden and potted tomatoes and tomatillos. I am, however, about to move to a different house in town with a larger lot so I'll actually be able to start gardening next spring. The new property already has a garden of about 600 to 800 square feet and I hope eventually to double or triple this. There are also some berry bushes and apple trees on the property, and I know nothing about caring for those either. I did order Rodale's encyclopedia (hasn't arrived yet) but I'm wondering if you or anyone else could recommend any other good reference book for a beginner like me.

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creg on September 21, 2007 - 12:47pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

THE VEGETABLE GARDNER'S BIBLE

EDWARD C. SMITH wide rows, organic, raised beds, deep soil

very good all around reference book.

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Cedar on September 21, 2007 - 12:59pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

My advice: if you've got the Rodale book coming, save your money on anything else. It will take a beginner far down the road.

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SacredCowTipper on September 21, 2007 - 1:00pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Go to http://seedsavers.org and join up. I did this a few weeks ago, then called and told 'em I was real dumb could they recommend some books. I got "Seed to Seed" because I'm interested in maintaining fertile seed year to year and "How To Grow More Vegetables".

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Will on September 21, 2007 - 2:27pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Phineas,

A couple of things... the Rodale book is good. It will give you a fine start. But don't lose the Cornell link. It has a very nice search function and our ancestor ag-folks were very clever. So when you have the inevitable pest problem, or mildew in the squash, give the old ways a trial. They work.

Another step would be to accumulate local weather information. Not just frost dates, but daily highs/lows, insolation values, rainfall tables, insect hatch dates and so on. Your university extension service will have this info and they will be on the web. Also get a seed sowing calculator. They are cheap slide-rule things where you set the spring and fall frost dates and it backs into sowing/harvesting schedules. Get over to your new property and record the sun-shade situation, before the leaves fall.

An aside... don't dink around with commercial greenhouse starts. The real fun of gardening begins in January when you order seed. There's amazing stuff out there. With good soil and pest management you will eat like a king.

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phineas gage on September 21, 2007 - 10:48pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Will,
thanks for your advice. I'm someone with no prior experience and who has small children at home and a busy job, so reading your link and post is a little bit intimidating. But I do have a goal to produce 10% of the food my family consumes by two years from now so I'm realizing there's a lot to it. I expect a lot of failure in the first year but hope to learn and do better in year two. I live in southern ohio, 40 to 45" of rain in a typical year, good soil, zone 6. I plan to can and freeze food to attain this goal. I live right in town, just outside of downtown so having animals is not possible, at least not yet. If I get my garden up to the 1000 to 2000 sq ft range and have a couple fruit trees and a couple berry bushes, is 10% a realistic goal for a family of four?

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feonixrift on September 22, 2007 - 12:12am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

2000 sq ft? You might well be able to hit 90-100% with that eventually, assuming you like potatoes, vegetables, fruit and beans. 10% in two years sounds eminently reasonable to me.

My little Zone 9 or 10 porch, well, that likely won't hit 10% unless I work really hard at it. This summer I managed a whole two radishes, so I've a long way to go.

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semaley on September 21, 2007 - 3:40pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Try "Gaia's Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture"
by Toby Hemenway

Also consider "The One Straw Revolution"
by Masanobu Fukuoka

If you are in a cold temperate climate (North America, especially the Northeast US and Southeast Canada), ...

then check out "Edible Forest Gardens"
by Dave Jacke
http://edibleforestgardens.com/

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vtfarmer on September 21, 2007 - 4:42pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

SCT's recommendation on Seed Savers is excellent because it will allow you to continue your garden from your own seed. You have to use open-pollinated or what are called heirloom type seeds (most commercial seeds are hybrids but you can't save their seeds because they won't produce true to whatever the hybrid was). Saving seed from your garden helps assure you of having a garden the next year.

I would also recommend The Four Season Harvest by Elliot Coleman. He talks about ways to extend the harvest, to do succession plantings, mulches, etc. He also talks about plants to put in in colder weather (plants you won't find at the grocery and which will open a new eating experience). The book is also based on organic principles. Good luck, we're all learning as we go.

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sgage on September 21, 2007 - 6:56pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Fedco Seeds in Maine is a wonderful resource.

They've got organic, open pollinated, heirloom seeds of all kinds. www.fedcoseeds.com

I get all my seeds from them. Also seed potatoes, fruit trees, etc.

I just can't recommend them enough if you're in the northeast.

And yes, every year is a learning experience...

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speek on September 21, 2007 - 12:58pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

I went to the library and read some books about composting after that TOD story. "Let It Rot" turned out to be a very good and simple book on composting.

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